Battery Module Anti-Exposure Channel Flame Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face issues with flames being exposed outside and gases not being easily discharged during battery cell ignition, leading to potential secondary damage or explosion.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design featuring a case cover with an anti-exposure channel and guide barriers arranged in a zigzag pattern to prevent flame exposure and a mesh member and flame-retardant member to facilitate gas discharge, along with a pre-filter to manage ignition byproducts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the case cover is sealed to prevent flame exposure, then safety against flame exposure is improved, but gas discharge becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame exposureVSAvoidgas discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The case cover is segmented into multiple functional zones: a flame-blocking region with anti-exposure channels that allow gas passage but block flames, and a gas discharge region with dedicated discharge ports. This segmentation enables simultaneous flame prevention and gas discharge by directing gases through specific pathways while blocking direct flame exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Anti-exposure channels act as intermediary structures that mediate between the internal combustion environment and external environment. These channels allow gas molecules to pass through while their geometry and positioning prevent flame propagation, serving as a selective mediator that permits gas discharge while blocking flame exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If guide barriers are arranged in zigzag pattern to prevent flame exposure, then flame blocking capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame exposureVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Guide barriers are arranged in zigzag patterns rather than straight lines, creating curved pathways that extend the tortuosity of the anti-exposure channels. This curvature increases the path length that flames must traverse while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure, improving flame blocking capability without proportionally increasing device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide barriers utilize three-dimensional spatial arrangement within the case cover, creating multi-level pathways. By arranging barriers in vertical and horizontal dimensions, the design maximizes flame path length and complexity within a compact footprint, achieving effective flame blocking without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10446813B2Battery module, and battery pack and vehicle including the same

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery module, which includes a plurality of battery cells, a case frame configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells, and a case cover mounted to a front side and a rear side of the case frame to package the plurality of battery cells together with the case frame, the case cover having an anti-exposure channel provided therein to prevent a flame generated when the battery cells are ignited from being exposed to the outside.